Midwestern State men open at home Friday against Rogers State

Midwestern State's Elijah Lee passes in the game against Wiley Monday, Nov. 5, 2018, in D.L. Ligon Coliseum at MSU. The Mustangs lost to the Wildcats 78-64.(Photo: Lauren Roberts/Times Record News)Buy Photo

There's a lot of new with Midwestern State basketball this season, beginning with a basically all-new roster and a chance for the Mustangs to open at home Friday and Saturday at D.L. Ligon Coliseum.

The Mustangs, 11-18 a year ago, are playing host to the Nissan of Wichita Falls Conference Challenge and will face Rogers State at 7 p.m. Friday and then battle Arkansas Fort Smith at 8 p.m. Saturday.

MSU head coach Nelson Haggerty is hoping that Monday's exhibition loss to Wiley College allowed his team to knock off the rust and get rid of the nevers.

"It was our time to host a classic and this will be great for us," Haggerty said. "We've had a bunch of injuries in the preseason and we have to learn and build our identity as a team. But that's kind of what you have to do every year."

The only returnee who had played last season was Ola Ayondele, a 6-6 senior from England but he won't be available this month at least so it's a completely new roster. And a lineup that Monday night included redshirt freshman Trae Jones of Hirschi.

Haggerty found some good things in the loss to an experienced Wiley College unit and one was seven assists in 27 minutes by point guard Elijah Lee, a 5-11 junior transfer from Pepperdine.

"He was one of the brighter spots; we're playing faster than Pepperdine," Haggerty said.

Gilbert Thomas, a 6-6 junior from Houston, had 14 points and 15 rebounds, and 6-7 junior Bishop Coulter (Connors State) had 12 points and five rebounds. The potential is there to have more depth in the frontcourt, Haggerty said.

Rogers State is picked to finish fourth in the Heartland Conference and Fort Smith was picked fifth. Rogers State senior Saint Hillaire was named to the Preseason All-Heartland Conference squad after averaging 12.2 points in 29 games with 17 starts last season.

"This learning curve will be longer than any other season but we want to compete to win every game we play," Haggerty said. "Every team wants to be the best and that doesn't change for us."

WOMEN: The Midwestern State women open at Oklahoma Christian Friday in Wichita, Kansas.

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Midwestern State was picked eighth in the LSC but sophomore forward Hannah Reynolds & senior guard Chelcie Kizart hope to change that outlook.
Andy Newberry, Wichita Falls Times Record News